Parliament Question: India-US relations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 83 ANSWERED ON - 29/01/2026 INDIA-US RELATIONS 83. SHRI DEBASHISH SAMANTARAY Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:- (a) the present stand of India on strategic, economic and defence cooperation with the United States of America; (b) areas of convergence and divergence between India and the USA on global issues; (c) impact of India USA relations on trade, technology and higher education; (d) steps taken to protect the interests of Indian students and professionals in the USA; and; (e) recent high-level engagements between the two countries? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (e) India and the United States have a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, sharing convergence on a range of global and regional issues, including counter-terrorism, defence and security cooperation, trusted technologies, resilient supply chains and a commitment to a free, open Indo-Pacific. Both countries pursue foreign policies based on national interests, which reflect their point of view on certain trade measures, sanctions-related issues and approaches to specific regional developments. Divergences are managed through high-level and institutional dialogues. The defence partnership is a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, driven by strategic convergence and a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Cooperation includes co-development and co-production, defence industrial partnerships, and joint military exercises, enhancing interoperability across land, maritime, air, space and cyber domains. In the technology domain, both sides are working under the U.S.–India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative, launched in February 2025, to promote collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy and space, and to build trusted and resilient supply chains. On the trade front, the United States remains one of India’s largest trading partners. Both sides are currently engaged in negotiations on a mutually beneficial multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). 1In the domain of higher education, the two sides are strengthening institutional linkages through joint and dual degree programmes, twinning arrangements, Centres of Excellence and offshore campuses. As of December 2025, 353,737 Indian students are pursuing higher studies in the United States. The welfare of the Indian community in the United States is of the highest priority for the Government. Indian Mission/Posts in the United States provide consular assistance on priority to grievances and distress calls through 24x7 emergency helplines, walk-ins, emails, social media and the MADAD portal. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is also utilised to assist Indian nationals, including students, in distress. The Ministry continues to engage U.S. authorities to underscore the importance of people-to-people ties and skilled mobility in the long-term interest of both countries. Recent high-level engagements include the Official Working Visit of the Prime Minister to Washington D.C. on 12–13 February 2025, and the official visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to India from 21–24 April 2025. The External Affairs Minister and the Minister of Commerce and Industry have also been meeting their respective U.S. counterparts regularly. Both sides are further witnessing sustained exchanges of high-level delegations, including Parliamentary and Congressional delegations. ***** 2